To view the annual financial reports for Pinellas County schools, please click on the link below. New Heights Elementary's financial report can be viewed on page 116:

Hawk Expectations

New Heights Elementary is proud to be a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) school! This means that we have the same behavioral expectations school-wide, and we have a process in place to acknowledge all of the wonderful ways in which our students meet these expectations.

School-wide Discipline

On the rare occasion that a student's behavior is not quite meeting expectations, the following process is used school-wide:

Step 1: Verbal warning

Step 2: In class time out

Student will not earn point for that part of the day and will

complete a "think sheet" to reflect on situation.

Step 3: Out of class time out

Classroom Referral will go home and parent will be notified by

phone.

Step 4: Office Discipline Referral (ODR)

* Major infractions will result in an immediate ODR.

* Earning 4 classroom referrals is considered a major infraction and an

ODR will be written.

Daily Points

Students can earn up to 4 points per day for meeting the HAWKS Expectations. Our school-wide goal is for each student to earn at least 3 points per day. When they do this consistently, they will attend a celebration held monthly. These PBS celebrations include activities such as popcorn parties, dance parties, game day, and more!

Awards

Students who consistently earn 4 daily points are recognized with a Behavior Award each grading period, as well as, through the monthly celebrations.

Hawk Pride Awards can also be earned for meeting the HAWKS Expectations. Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Boyd visit every classroom each Friday to personally congratulate students who have earned a Hawk Pride.

Attention Parents/Guardians

Attendance Policy

Notify teacher of your child's absence by providing written documentation on a sheet of paper immediately or within 48 hours of your child's return to school. Submit doctor's notes when applicable. Absences and tardies will be marked excused if they qualify as excused. (See code of student conduct for qualifying excused absences and tardies.)

At three (3) unexcused absences, teacher will make contact with parent/guardian and refer to social worker.

Every three (3) unexcused tardies within a grading period count as one (1) unexcused absence.

Every three (3) unexcused early sign-outs with a grading period will count as one (1) unexcused absence.

Students who have at least five (5) unexcused absences within a one month period or ten (10) unexcused absences within a 90 day period will be referred to the state attorney for prosecution for educational neglect.

See the attendance section of the Code of Student Conduct for additional information.

A Message From Your School Social Worker:

As we enter into the final weeks of school before the winter break, it is important to stay focused on getting your children to school every day. As parents, you can let your child know how much you value their education by emphasizing regular attendance and on time arrival. Teaching and learning is occurring until the last day. At this point, we have had 105 students (out of the 842 enrolled) with five or more unexcused absences. That is 12% of our population. We have had 15 students with 10 or more unexcused absences (2% of our population). If your child is absent, please provide a written excuse (or note from the doctor/dentist) when your child returns to school. Otherwise, the absence is considered "unexcused." While we recognize that families at times have emergencies and absences are unavoidable, please do not schedule vacations or family trips during school days. The attendance policy for Pinellas County Schools is in the Code of Student Conduct. If you have any attendance questions, feel free to contact Socorro Thomas, School Social Worker at 727-521-5350, ext. 2010.

Clinic Needs

The clinic is in need of new or gently used clothing, especially pants for boys at all grade levels. Thank you for your help.

New Breakfast Times

To ensure classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:35 a.m., breakfast will be served 8:00 - 8:25 a.m. If you would like your child to receive breakfast at school, they must be in the cafeteria no later than 8:25 a.m. It is important that all students arrive in class on time as it is essential to meeting our vision of "100% Student Success."

InSync Education has added new features to its website. New features include more quizzes and hands-on activities for students in kindergarten through grade 8. The site has also added new resources for families about Health and Safety, including articles about bullying prevention and tips for talking to children about traumatic events. InSync, which offers activities in English and Spanish, is available online 24/7 and can be accessed from any computer or mobile device at http://www.insyncedu.com/insync/PCSB .

Trading Cards

Students should not bring POKEMON or other trading cards to school. They have become a campus disruption as students trade them with each other.

ALL CARDS will be confiscated if found on campus. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain an academic focus here at school.

We Collect for a GREENER tomorrow!

Help us earn funding! Collect from home or simply ask businesses in your area to donate their printer cartridges or cell phones to support our school! Powered by Funding Factory: http://www.fundingfactory.com.

Write a Note of Gratitude

Give your child a package of "Thank You" notes.

Help your child learn to express his/her "gratitude to those who have spent time and money to buy and send" gifts. "...Not enough people-even adults-take the time to write a note of appreciation for presents they are given." "...Parents should encourage children to do this as soon as they are able to understand the concept." Help instill "a lifelong habit in our children." Excerpted from Dear Abby by Jeanne Phillips, http://www.dearabby.com.